NRK called the Independence March a "Nazi march." Poles in Norway: "This is hypocrisy and a slap in the face"

Redakcja

14.11.2025 12:03

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A frame from NRK's news program showing a banner with the caption 'Nazimarsjer i Polen'. This graphic sparked a wave of reactions and protests among Poles living in Norway. MN

A controversial news banner on NRK's program, describing the Independence March as “nazimarsjer”, has sparked outrage among Poles living in Norway. The Polish community emphasizes that such a portrayal of the national holiday is harmful and creates a false image of the entire nation. A wave of complaints and calls for clarification has flooded the internet.

In one of NRK's news programs, a segment was aired with a banner describing events in Poland as “nazimarsjer i Polen” (“Nazi marches in Poland”). For many Poles living in Norway, this was a shock and a sense of injustice, which immediately triggered reactions in Polish community groups.

The comments were dominated by emotions: anger, disappointment, and a need for a clear opposition to such a portrayal of Poland. Many pointed out that the average Norwegian—unfamiliar with Polish realities—might simply assume that the Independence March is an event of an extremely extremist nature.

One comment that perfectly reflects the mood of the Polish community read: In Norway, everything is Norwegian and everyone respects that. But when Poles show their colors, suddenly it's Nazism. That's pure hypocrisy.

For thousands of Poles living in Norway, such a portrayal of the symbolic day—November 11—was a form of public humiliation.

The media pick up on extremes and turn them into headlines

The Independence March is an event that every year attracts hundreds of thousands of ordinary people: families, youth, seniors, and veterans. No one denies that there are also groups carrying radical slogans.

The problem is that it is these isolated extreme images that most often make it into Western media—and based on them, a narrative about all of Poland is created.

Instead of writing: "A small group of radicals in Warsaw," it's much more media-friendly to say: "Nazimarsjer i Polen."

The Polish community responds: complaints, phone calls, and official letters

In Polish groups in Norway, links to submit complaints were immediately shared:

to NRK television,
to Kringkastingsrådet (the public media supervisory council),
to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Oslo,
to the Norwegian media ethics commission.

There were also appeals: “We cannot allow public media to insult the Poles who live and work here.”

The issue was also raised by a politician of Polish descent from Bergen, who sent an official letter to Norwegian editorial offices. She emphasized that public television should not use phrases that distort the image of the Polish national holiday.

Double standards? Poles speak out:

Many commenters pointed out another aspect: NRK would not dare to use such a strong term for other national or ethnic groups.

Why? Because Poles will not go out and destroy the streets, nor will they pose a real threat to public safety. And since there is no risk, a stronger, more sensational phrase can be used.

This sense of inequality and lack of respect appeared most frequently in the comments.

What does the Polish community really expect?

Poles living in Norway are not trying to defend any political party. Their expectations are much simpler:

reliability in reporting information,
not presenting extremes as representative of the entire nation,
respect for Polish history and tradition,
avoiding misleading headlines that could damage the reputation of the Poles living in Norway.

The Polish community has worked for years to build its good reputation and has the right to expect that public media will not destroy it with a single unfortunate news banner.